Hydraulically adjustable tool post



Oct. 28, .1952 Q F s 2,615,233

HYDRAULICALLY ADJUSTABLE TOOL POST Filed May 4, 1950 INVENTOR;

ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 28,1952

Daniel 0. Ferris, Denver, Colo.

"Application M 4. 1950, S rial No. 16011355 y, I

This invention relates to a tool post for lathes and similar machine tools, and has for its principal object the provision of a multiple-tool'supporting post which can be raised and lowered hydraulically to accurately position the'toolat any desired height. a

Another object is to incorporatethe hydraulic pressure device in the tool post itself so that the hydraulic mechanism may be actuated by simply rotating an adjusting screw so that all outside hydraulic connections will be eliminated; I A further object istoprovide a'multiple-tool holding post with position-indicating means to indicate and set the tools: at predetermined radial positions, and to so construct-the device that it may be used in the post slide of any conventional lathe.

Other objects and advantages reside in the de-' tail construction of the invention, which is designed for simplicity, economy, and efficiency. These will become more apparent from the following description; k

In thefollowing detaileddescription of the invention, reference is had to the accompanying drawing which forms a part'hereof.' Like numerals refer to like parts in all views of the, drawing and throughout the description.

In the drawing: Fig. l is a plan View of the improved tool post; Fig. 2 is aside view thereof l Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section taken on the Fig. 4 is a horizontal section, taken on the line 44, Fig. 3.

The improved tool post is provided with a dovetailed, elongated foot portion designed to fit into the tool slide of any conventional lathe. The foot I0 could, of course, be clamped to a milling machine or drill press table or other machine tool.

The elongated foot portion l0 supports an upstanding cylindrical post II which is rotatably 5 cla ms. (01., 29- -4s and slidably fitted into a cylindrical socketlB in a tool-holding block l2. The tool-holding block I2 is preferably rectangular, as illustrated, and is provided with a tool-receiving channel l3 along each of its sides. The channels I3 are designed to receive various lathe tools, such as indicated at M, which are held in place in the chan- Oneextremity of the foot portion HI. is drilled out. toform a fluid pressure cylinder 2| "which communicates with the bore I8 through a transfer port 22. The outer extremity ofthe cylinder 2| is closed by means of athreaded bushing: 23 A threaded piston screw 24 is screwed through the bushing 23 and terminates within: the cylinder in a piston'plate25 against-which a-cupwasher 34 is clamped by means of a central screw 35. The outer'extremity of the piston screw 24 terminates inaknurled head26.

The bore Hi, the passage 22, and the cylinder 2| are maintained filled with suitable hydraulic fluid. It can be seen that whenthe knurled head 26 is rotated in one direction, it will force the piston plate 25 inwardly, and the latter'willin turn force the fluid into the bore l8, causing it to lift the plunger l1 and the entire'tool-holding block I2. v

By proportioning the relative sizes of the cylinder 2| and the bore I8, any desired ratio may be obtained between the degree of rotation of the head 26 and the rise of the block l2, so that an accurate micrometric adjustment may be obtained. r l

The sides of the .post tare vertically grooved,"

as. indicated at 2T,'the spacing of the grooves being at any desired regular intervals to indicate radial'positions of any degree. As illustrated, the grooves are positioned at 45 intervals. A click ball 28 is forced into the grooves 21 by means of a click spring 29 acting against a threaded plug 30 in the block l2. Thus, the block l2 can be rotated and will automatically position itself at 45 intervals.

The block can be locked to the post II at any desired height or angle through the medium of a brake shoe 3| which can be forced against the side of the block by means of a locking screw 32 exteriorly in an actuating head 33. Bytightening the screw 32, the'shoe 3| is forced against the side of the post H to prevent vertical or circumferential movement of the block I2.

While a specific form of the improvement has been described and illustrated herein, it is to be understood that the same may be varied, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed and desired secured by Letters Patent 1. A tool post for lathes and the like comprise ing: a foot member arranged for attachment to the tool rest of a. lathe; a cylindrical post mounted on and arising from said'foot member; a toolholding block fitted over said post and having a cavity in its bottom for receiving said post; a plunger affixed to said block extending downward from said block into a receiving bore in said post; said plunger being free to move either axially or-circumferentially of said bore; a hydraulic cylinder formed in said foot portion and communicating with said bore; a pumppistonin said cylinder; hydraulic fluid in said bore and cylinder; and means for forcing said piston'inwardly to cause said fluid to 'force said plunger upwardly to raise said block.

2. A tool post for lathes and the like 'com-" prising: a foot member arranged for; attach-v mentto the tool rest of .a lathe; a cylindrical post mounted on and arising-:from said foot:

member; a tool-holding block fitted over said post and having a cavity in its bottom for rece ving said post; a plunger affixed to said block extending downward from said block into a' receivingbore in said post, said plunger being free to move either axially or circumferentially of said bore; a hydraulic cylinder formed in said foot portionand communicating withsaid bore; a pump piston in said cylin'deryhydraulic fluid in said here and cylinder; and a piston screw extending into said cylinder and being connected With-said piston so that when said screw is rotated invone direction, saidpiston will beforced inwardly to cause saidfluid to force said block upwardly: i i

' 3. A tool post for-"lathes" and the like comprising: a foot member arranged for attachment to the toolrest of a lathe;'-a cylindrical post mounted on and arising from said foot'member: I

tool-holding :block fitted over said post and havinga' cavity in its bottom for receiving said "outer extremity ofsaid cylinder; a'pis'ton rod threaded through said bushing; a piston mounted on the inner extermity of saidlrod within said cylinder; and means for rotating said rod tovcause said piston to force said fluid into said bore to raise said block.

4. A tool-post for lathes and the like compris- 1 ing: a foot member arranged for attachment to the tool rest of a lathe; a cylindrical post mounted on and arising from said foot member; a toolshoe in said block positioned to engage said post;

and screw means contacting said brake shoe for forcing the latter against said post.

' '5. A tool post for lathes and the like comprising: a foot member arranged for attachment to the tool rest of a lathe; a cylindrical post mounted on and arising from said foot member; a toolholding block fitted over said post and having a cavity in its bottom for receiving said post; a' plunger affixed to said block extending downward from said block into an axially positioned receiving bore in said post,said plunger being free to move either axially or circumferentially of said bore; a-hydraulic cylinder formed in said foot portion and communicatingzwith said bore; a pump piston in said cylinder; hydraulic fluid in said bore and cylinderpmeans for forcing said piston inwardly to cause 'said fluid to force said plunger upwardly to raise said block; vertical spaced-apart grooves formed in the sides of said post; and a spring-actuated click ball positioned to successively engage said grooves as said block is rotated about said-post.

DANIEL O. FERRIS.

REFERENCES CITED The following referen ces are of record'in the file of this patent: 

